History Characters / Seinfeld

* EvilCannotComprehendGood: Well, Jerry isn't exactly ''evil'', more like an [[UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist antisocial misanthropic jerk]], but in one episode, he openly says that a woman being a genuinely good person is a mood-killing turnoff.

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* EvilCannotComprehendGood: Well, Jerry isn't exactly ''evil'', more like an [[UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist antisocial misanthropic jerk]], but in one episode, he openly says states that a woman being a genuinely good person is a mood-killing turnoff.

* EvilCannotComprehendGood: Well, Jerry isn't exactly ''evil'', more like an [[UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist antisocial misanthropic jerk]], but in one episode, he openly says that a woman being a genuinely good person is a mood-killing turnoff.

* ForWantOfANail: Spoofed. In one episode, George states that [[MundaneLuxury if he had a mantle piece above his fireplace, he would have had a normal childhood]].* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Melancholic (exhibiting most of the negative traits and just about none of the positive ones)

*** In the episode "The Blood," George using Jerry's kitchen to make pudding (skins) makes him lose his temper. Granted, Jerry was trying to go on a diet at the time, [[OutOfCharacterMoment but still]].

* BornUnlucky: Easily the unluckiest of the four. Any scheme he tries is guaranteed to fall apart.

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* BornUnlucky: Easily the unluckiest of the four. Any scheme he tries is guaranteed to fall apart. The "born" part might be [[InTheBlood literally true]], since in one episode, he states that it runs in the family: "My father was a quitter, my grandfather was a quitter. I was raised to give up."

* TheCynic: [[CoolLoser Despite having the highest number of girlfriends in the show's run]], George doesn't always have very positive views of romantic relationships. In a couple of instances, he claims that birthdays and weekend trips ''kill'' relationships instead of cement them.

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* TheCynic: [[CoolLoser Despite having the highest number of girlfriends dates among the main characters in the show's run]], George doesn't always have very positive views of romantic relationships. In a couple of instances, he claims that birthdays and weekend trips ''kill'' ''[[ToiletSeatDivorce kill]]'' relationships instead of cement them.

* TheCynic: [[CoolLoser Despite having the highest number of girlfriends in the show's run]], George doesn't always have very positive views of romantic relationships. In a couple of instances, he claims that birthdays and weekend trips ''kill'' relationships instead of cement them.

* InformedJudaism: He has a JewishMother but that's about it. The one time he brought it up is because one of his fellow comedians converted to Judaism [[NWordPrivileges purely so he could make Jewish jokes without offending anyone]]. This offended ''as a comedian''.

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* InformedJudaism: He has a JewishMother but that's about it. The one time he brought it up is because one of his fellow comedians converted to Judaism [[NWordPrivileges purely so he could make Jewish jokes without offending anyone]]. This offended him ''as a comedian''.

* TheGamblingAddict: It's implied that he's had gambling problems in the past. Newman calls him a "weak, weak man" when Kramer calls him asking for urgent help because he pet on the arrival and departure times of airplanes with a stranger.

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* TheGamblingAddict: It's implied that he's had gambling problems in the past. Newman calls him a "weak, weak man" when Kramer calls him asking for urgent help because he pet bet on the arrival and departure times of airplanes with a stranger.

%%* ZanyScheme: * ZanyScheme: His "bladder system" to stop oil spills, using the US Postal Service to get extra cents on recycled bottles, that time he tried to drive Kenny Chicken out of business etc.

%%* EvilLaugh%%* FatBastard* EvilLaugh: A loud and sinister laugh accompanies his conversations with Jerry. * FatBastard: A tubby guy for Jerry's arch-nemesis (Jerry is noted for being "thin" but also a jerk).

* MilesGloriosusMilesGloriosus: If you read the Peterman Catalogue then it you would be lead to believe that he has led an exciting life by traveling all over the world. All that stuff is made up by his employees.

* ControlFreak* DeadpanSnarker: Jerry is made of snark. It's his defining quality — for example, when he and Kramer started taking on each other's personalities due to an apartment switch, Kramer's non-existent snark level immediately shot UpToEleven.* EasilyForgiven

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* %%* ControlFreak* DeadpanSnarker: Jerry is made of snark. It's his defining quality — for example, when he and Kramer started taking on each other's personalities due to an apartment switch, Kramer's non-existent snark level immediately shot UpToEleven.* %%* EasilyForgiven

* InformedJudaism: Since he He has a JewishMother.* JewishMother but that's about it. The one time he brought it up is because one of his fellow comedians converted to Judaism [[NWordPrivileges purely so he could make Jewish jokes without offending anyone]]. This offended ''as a comedian''. %%* ItsAllAboutMe

** Jerry ''does'' in his own way care about his trio of friends. Episodes have made it clear that while he doesn't care if they ''suffer'', he doesn't like the idea of not being able to hang out with them anymore, and will take steps to make sure they're still connected.* ReallyGetsAround: All of the main characters do to a certain extent, but he had more partners than any of them.

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** Jerry ''does'' in his own way care about his trio of friends. Episodes have made Certain episodes make it clear that while he doesn't care if they his friends ''suffer'', he doesn't like the idea of not being able to hang out with them anymore, and will take steps to make sure they're still connected.connected [[ItAmusedMe so they can amuse him with their suffering]]. * ReallyGetsAround: All of the main characters do to a certain extent, but he had more partners than any of them.75 girlfriends over nine seasons!

* BreakoutCharacter* BrilliantButLazy: George comes up with surprisingly brilliant schemes, but for the purposes of completely pointless things. One can only wonder how successful he'd be if he put the effort into work that he puts into avoiding work.

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* %%* BreakoutCharacter* BrilliantButLazy: BrilliantButLazy: ** George comes up with surprisingly brilliant schemes, but for the purposes of completely pointless things. One can only wonder how successful he'd be if he put the effort into work that he puts into avoiding work.

* ConsummateLiarConsummateLiar: When Jerry wanted to beat a lie detector he went to George for advice; this man lies as naturally as breathing. * DeadpanSnarkerDeadpanSnarker: Most dry and witty when it is at his own expense. Against others it fails on both counts.

%%* EvilIsPetty* EvilIsPettyFreudianExcuse: It's implied that his childhood is what caused his very warped view on the world and humanity. In his eyes, everyone else is a selfish jerk, so to get ahead, he needs to be the biggest and most selfish jerk of them all.

* HilariouslyAbusiveChildhood** FreudianExcuse: It's implied that his childhood is what caused his very warped view on the world and humanity. In his eyes, everyone else is a selfish jerk, so to get ahead, he needs to be the biggest and most selfish jerk of them all.

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* HilariouslyAbusiveChildhood** FreudianExcuse: It's implied HilariouslyAbusiveChildhood: His stories and flashbacks to all the shit that his childhood parents put him through is what caused also part of the humor of his very warped view on the world and humanity. In his eyes, everyone else is a selfish jerk, so to get ahead, he needs to be the biggest and most selfish jerk of them all.character.

* LackOfEmpathy: Almost never shows remorse for his actions.* TheLancer: To Jerry.* LargeHam* LaserGuidedKarma: After indirectly killing Susan and acting elated after her death, he is put on the board for the Susan Ross Foundation, taking away much of his free time and leaving him with the constant reminder of how wealthy he would have been had she not died. [[{{Troll}} This may have even been the entire point of the Foundation]], since Susan's parents never liked George very much, and also suspected (along with everyone else on the board) that he murdered Susan deliberately.

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* LackOfEmpathy: Almost never shows remorse for his actions.* actions [[spoiler: not even his dead fiancé who was poisoned by the cheap envelopes he insisted on.]]%%* TheLancer: To Jerry.* %%* LargeHam* LaserGuidedKarma: LaserGuidedKarma: ** After indirectly killing Susan and acting elated after her death, he is put on the board for the Susan Ross Foundation, taking away much of his free time and leaving him with the constant reminder of how wealthy he would have been had she not died. [[{{Troll}} This may have even been the entire point of the Foundation]], since Susan's parents never liked George very much, and also suspected (along with everyone else on the board) that he murdered Susan deliberately.

* LazyBum* ManChild: He was even living with his parents for the first few seasons.* MistakenForGay: With Jerry in "The Outing".* NominalHero: And even then, only when he's confronting people worse than him, which isn't often.

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* LazyBumLazyBum: He used severance pay from one of his jobs as an excuse not to get up from his chair for days on end. * ManChild: He Lacking in maturity this one; he was even living with his parents for the first few seasons.* MistakenForGay: With Jerry in "The Outing".Outing" as part of a prank that got out of hand. * NominalHero: And even then, He only counts as "heroic" when he's confronting people worse than him, which isn't often.

* [[RealMenWearPink Real Men Wear Velvet]]: Or at least they would, if it was socially acceptable. He finally manages to live out his fantasy of dressing in all velvet when dating a girl who doesn't care about physical appearance. Unfortunately for him, he gets {{Squick}}ed when she starts to suck on a peach pit from a peach he ate, and breaks up with her.** He also manages to land a girl whose apartment was filled with velvet furniture. Again, unfortunately for him, he convinced her to kick out her male roommate only to find out the furniture belonged to him.* {{Schemer}}

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* [[RealMenWearPink Real Men Wear Velvet]]: Or at least they would, if it was socially acceptable. He finally manages to live out his fantasy of dressing in all velvet when dating a girl who doesn't care about physical appearance. Unfortunately for him, he gets {{Squick}}ed when she starts to suck on a peach pit from a peach he ate, and breaks up with her.** He also manages to land a girl whose apartment was filled with velvet furniture. Again, unfortunately for him, he convinced her to kick out her male roommate only to find out the furniture belonged to him.* %%* {{Schemer}}

* ThisLoserIsYou (Until he starts doing [[TitleDrop the Opposite]]).* ThrowTheDogABone: Sure he probably deserves the bad things that happen to him more than the other three but that said, he does get a pretty big win in the last episode of season 5 when doing everything the opposite of what his instinct tells him gets him a new high profile job (with the New York Yankees!), a beautiful girlfriend and finally gets to move back out of his parents house. Pretty much the only episode to have a happy ending for George.

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* ThisLoserIsYou (Until he starts doing [[TitleDrop the Opposite]]).* ThrowTheDogABone: Sure he probably deserves the bad things that happen to him more than the other three but that said, he does get gets a pretty big win in the last episode of season 5 when doing everything the opposite of what his instinct tells him gets him a new high profile job (with the New York Yankees!), a beautiful girlfriend and finally gets to move back out of his parents house. Pretty much It's the only episode to have a happy ending for George.

* UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist: Easily the worst of the four main characters, he's selfish, insensitive, untrustworthy, abrasive, cowardly, dishonest, annoying, cheap, lazy and stupid. And is a borderline [[TheSociopath sociopath]] and a VillainProtagonist.* [[IHaveBoobsYouMustObey You Have Boobs, I Must Obey!]]: "Every woman on the face of the Earth has complete control over my life... and yet, I want them all. Is that irony?"

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* UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist: Easily the worst of the four main characters, he's selfish, insensitive, untrustworthy, abrasive, cowardly, dishonest, annoying, cheap, lazy and stupid. And He's is a borderline [[TheSociopath sociopath]] and a VillainProtagonist.* [[IHaveBoobsYouMustObey You Have Boobs, I Must Obey!]]: IHaveBoobsYouMustObey: Inverted! "Every woman on the face of the Earth has complete control over my life... and yet, I want them all. Is that irony?"

* DynamicEntry: One of his trademarks.* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Is depicted as a shut-in named "Kessler" who hasn't left the apartment building in years and owns a dog in the pilot.* EmbarrassingFirstName: Cosmo, though he eventually embraces it.

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* DynamicEntry: One of his trademarks.trademarks is sliding through Jerry's door. * EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Is in the pilot he is depicted as a shut-in named "Kessler" who hasn't left the apartment building in years and owns a dog in the pilot.dog.* EmbarrassingFirstName: Cosmo, though he Cosmo. Not even Jerry knew it for several seasons and years in-universe. He eventually embraces it.

* TheGamblingAddict* TheGhost: None of his oft-mentioned friends (Bob Sacamano, Jay Remenschneider and Lomez) have appeared on screen. This is {{Justified}} by Jerry himself in ''Entertainment Weekly'''s "Special ''Seinfeld'' Issue," May 4, 1998, covering the entire run leading up to the finale. In the "Introduces" section of the review of "The Pony Remark," Jerry said that cousin Jeffrey and Bob Sakamono were never seen because "they became too large in our imagination for anyone to fill those shoes."** Lampshaded in one episode, where Jerry wonders to Kramer why he's never met any of these friends of his. Kramer responds that they're all wondering why they've never met ''him''.

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* TheGamblingAddictTheGamblingAddict: It's implied that he's had gambling problems in the past. Newman calls him a "weak, weak man" when Kramer calls him asking for urgent help because he pet on the arrival and departure times of airplanes with a stranger. * TheGhost: None of his oft-mentioned friends (Bob Sacamano, Jay Remenschneider and Lomez) have appeared on screen. This is {{Justified}} by Jerry himself in ''Entertainment Weekly'''s "Special ''Seinfeld'' Issue," May 4, 1998, covering the entire run leading up to the finale. In the "Introduces" section of the review of "The Pony Remark," Jerry said that cousin Jeffrey and Bob Sakamono were never seen because "they became too large in our imagination for anyone to fill those shoes."** Lampshaded " It's lampshaded in one episode, where Jerry wonders to Kramer why he's never met any of these friends of his. Kramer responds that they're all wondering why they've never met ''him''.

* TheKlutz* LargeHam: Easily outstrips any other Large Ham on the show.* LastNameBasis: Even after his name is discovered.

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* %%* TheKlutz* LargeHam: Easily outstrips any other Large Ham on the show.%%* LargeHam: * LastNameBasis: Even after his first name is discovered.discovered, everyone still calls him "Kramer" in later episodes.

* NiceGuy: Compared to the other guys? Hell yes.* NoNameGiven: Until TheReveal that his first name is Cosmo.* OneHourWorkWeek: Try no-hour work week.** During the first couple of seasons, it was never outright stated that Kramer had no job; the writers just wanted it ambiguous what it was Kramer did for a living or how he got by. It wasn't about until season three or so that Kramer would occasionally be seen working the occasional odd-job (i.e. modeling for Calvin Klein underwear) or winning a bunch of money at the track. Then come season nine, it's established he's an employee at a bagel bakery who has been on strike for the better part of a decade.

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* NiceGuy: Compared to the other guys? Hell yes.* NoNameGiven: Until TheReveal that his first name is Cosmo.%%* NiceGuy: * OneHourWorkWeek: Try no-hour work week.** week. During the first couple of seasons, it was never outright stated that Kramer had no job; the writers just wanted it ambiguous what it was Kramer did for a living or how he got by. It wasn't about until season three or so that Kramer would occasionally be seen working the occasional odd-job (i.e. modeling for Calvin Klein underwear) or winning a bunch of money at the track. Then come season nine, it's established he's an employee at a bagel bakery who has been on strike for the better part of a decade.

* KavorkaMan: Certainly not to the extent of Kramer or George, but he does have a couple of nice-looking dates and girlfriends during the series.

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* KavorkaMan: Certainly not to the extent of Kramer or George, but he does have a couple of nice-looking dates He's as attractive as George and nastier than him and yet he's had numerous girlfriends during over the series.course of the series.

* AbusiveParents: Even for a sitcom, Frank is still kind of an asshole.

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* AbusiveParents: Even It's heavily implied that the reason George is so messed up is from having him as a father; the deal with Festivus, calling him "weak" for a sitcom, Frank is still kind of an asshole.needing glasses, etc.

* HiddenDepths: Is revealed to speak fluent Korean, having gone there frequently because of his job selling statues of Jesus and the Virgin Mary, which were manufactured in Korea. * {{Jerkass}}* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Oddly enough, this is implied sometimes. He seems to genuinely like Kramer and Jerry.* LargeHam* NoIndoorVoice

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* HiddenDepths: Is It's revealed to speak fluent Korean, having gone there frequently because of his job selling statues of Jesus and the Virgin Mary, which were manufactured in Korea. * {{Jerkass}}* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Oddly enough, {{Jerkass}}: He's like George in this is implied sometimes. He seems to genuinely like Kramer regard but louder and Jerry.* more aggressive. Where George might cower, the father will continue being berating and insulting. %%* LargeHam* %%* NoIndoorVoice

* {{Badass}}: It's debatable how many of his stories are true, but damn.* BasedOnAGreatBigLie: His biography, the majority of his stories being bought from Kramer.* BenevolentBoss: Subverted. While he ''seems'' an ideal and friendly boss for Elaine, there are many moments where he actually treats her like crap--butting into her personal life, which he has no right to do, assigning menial tasks to her that aren't her responsibility--fixing his flat tire--firing her over pretty things such as her not liking ''Film/TheEnglishPatient'', etc. He doesn't seem outwardly malicious though, just genuinely oblivious to the impropriety of such things.

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* {{Badass}}: It's debatable how many of his stories are true, but damn.* BasedOnAGreatBigLie: His biography, the majority of his autobiography is actually stories being that were bought from Kramer.Kramer and written by Elaine.* BenevolentBoss: Subverted. While he ''seems'' an ideal and friendly boss for Elaine, there are many moments where he actually treats her like crap--butting into her personal life, which he has no right to do, assigning menial tasks to her that aren't her responsibility--fixing his flat tire--firing her over pretty things such as her not liking ''Film/TheEnglishPatient'', etc. He doesn't seem outwardly malicious though, just genuinely oblivious to the impropriety of such things.

* IdiotHoudini: Makes plenty of outlandish decisions, but sticks around.* IncompetenceInc: The New York Yankees.* MotorMouth: Hoo boy. He talks constantly, and doesn't seem to notice whether people are paying attention or not.* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Barely. George Steinbrenner was a real person. For the record, he was a bit put-off when he heard the show was doing it, but quickly became okay with it (enough to actually cameo in an episode as himself). * PointyHairedBoss

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* IdiotHoudini: Makes plenty of outlandish decisions, but sticks around.* %%* IdiotHoudini: %%* IncompetenceInc: The New York Yankees.* MotorMouth: Hoo boy. He talks constantly, and doesn't seem to notice whether people are paying attention or not.* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Barely. George Steinbrenner was a real person. For the record, he was a bit put-off when he heard the show was doing it, but quickly became okay with it (enough to actually cameo in an episode as himself). * %%* PointyHairedBoss

* PetTheDog: When he hears from Kramer how some thugs stole an armoire from a friend, he offers his own as a replacement. Subverted, though, when he finds out it was for Elaine, as he flips his lid when she comes in to thank him for it.

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* PetTheDog: When he hears from Kramer how some thugs stole an armoire from a friend, he offers his own as a replacement. Subverted, though, It is subverted when he finds out it was for Elaine, as he flips his lid when she comes in to thank him for it.

* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Is definitely crazy, but he does claim that he doesn't judge a man by the length of his hair or the kind of music he listens to, as long as he respects the rules of the library, and was correct that Jerry hadn't returned the book, and the book is returned as a direct result of his actions, combined with some dumb luck.

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* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Is He's definitely crazy, but he does claim also claims that he doesn't judge a man by the length of his hair or the kind of music he listens to, as long as he respects the rules of the library, and was correct that Jerry hadn't returned the book, and the book is returned as a direct result of his actions, combined with some dumb luck.

-->'''Kramer:''' Are you sure you don't have a fax machine? Because there's a lot of stuff in my apartment I've never seen before.-->'''Elaine:''' Then maybe you have a fax machine.-->'''Kramer:''' ''(beat)'' You just blew my mind.

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-->'''Kramer:''' Are you sure you don't have a fax machine? Because there's a lot of stuff in my ''my'' apartment I've ''I've'' never seen before.-->'''Elaine:''' Then maybe you ''you'' have a fax machine.-->'''Kramer:''' ''(beat)'' ''[beat]'' You just blew my mind.

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